Photo By Sgt. Kenneth Bince | Spc. Kamisha Mitchell (right), a member of the Alabama National Guard, 217th Military...... read more read more
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq. – Soldiers from the 49 Military Police Brigade conducted US Customs inspections for more than 90 personnel from the Fort Hood, Texas-bound 1st Medical Brigade, 'Silver Knights', April 20, here.
The 5-Soldier MP customs inspection team consisted of Sgt. 1st Class Melissa McDonald, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Ratley, from the 49th MP Brigade, and Sgt. Ronnie Head, Spc. Steven Kilcrease and Spc. Kamisha Mitchell, from the 217th MP Company.
"In accordance with the Security Forces Agreement, US Forces will responsibly drawdown to a troop level of approximately 50,000 in theater by Sept. 1," said Maj. Earl Russell, 49th MP long range plans officer in charge. "Customs inspections are a part of that process, and are mandated for all departing service members as well as DoD civilians."
Since arriving in theater, October 2009, the 49th has worked diligently at accomplishing the important customs mission. "[The 49th is] just a part of the overall process of redeploying back to the states; not only do we inspect the personal items that belong to Soldiers, but all of the mission essential equipment that units bring into theater," said Russell.
"The customs inspections are also part of the MP full-spectrum operations, which is categorized under law and order," said McDonald. "MPs are usually tasked with this type mission in theater as well in the US."
To start the process, a mandatory prohibited and restricted items briefing is conducted, followed by a ten-minute amnesty period. " Once the amnesty period is up, my team begins searching anything and everything, " said McDonald.
"What we are searching for are prohibited and restricted items, or contraband such as ammunition, classified documents, pirated DVDs, pornography, switch blade knives, dirt and sand, to name a few," she said.
Dirt and sand can possibly contain indigenous species and bacteria that can wreak havoc on the agricultural economy of the US, said McDonald.
As the MPs systematically started inspecting, more than 90 Soldiers stood by their personal belongings that filled the 100-foot by 200-foot gravel parking lot. "The team has seen teddy bears to a surf board, anything you can think of, Soldiers own, and they want to take back home with them," said McDonald.
At approximately an hour into the inspection, one 25-foot shipping container was completely filled to the ceiling with footlockers and duffel bags, and the second one soon followed, all under the strict supervision of the MP team.
"The last few items are usually odd shaped, so a combination of plywood blocking and shipping straps secured the final items inside of the second container," said McDonald.
Once the final items are secured for shipment, sealing of the containers takes place. "The procedure requires sealing the containers or packing straps and nets with US Customs tamperproof seals, which are all serial numbered and logged," said McDonald. "Seals are used to make sure the container is not breached during transport."
"Since the 49th MPs received the mission from the 8th MP Brigade, the customs inspection team has inspected 41 units, and it's scheduled to complete an additional 40 more," said McDonald.
The team's success during an inspection is dependant upon the coordination between the team and the unit prior to the actual inspection date. "Inspection dates are usually set a month in advance," said McDonald. "That's when I distribute the prohibited and restricted items list."
The 1st Medical Brigade, the unit being inspected, began preparing for this day for more than a month. "Once we received the specifics of what [the customs team] needed, I setup weekly meetings with all of the different sections to track the unit's readiness," said Staff Sgt. Lionel Martinez, 1st Medical Brigade, headquarters' company supply sergeant.
"Not only did the company give weekly classes on the prohibited and restricted list, we also had all Soldiers fill out their packing lists (DA form 1750) more than a week ago," said Martinez.
"Then the day before the inspection, Soldiers in the company had their personal property and equipment pre-inspected by their section leaders," he said.
After the second container was filled and sealed, Martinez highlighted the experience saying, "The overwhelming success of the inspection can be attributed to forward planning, good communication and section integrity."
"Without those, the two to three hour experience would have taken six to 8 hours to complete," he said.
For the 49th MP customs inspection team, the 1st Medical Brigade's inspection was just one of two scheduled for the team, the later being at Sather Air Base a few hours later.
As US Forces drawdown to the 50,000-troop level by September, the 49th's customs team will continue to complete its mission of preventing the importation of prohibited or restricted items, and to protect the agriculture and economy of the United States.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2010 11:40 |
| Story ID: | 48587 |
| Location: | CAMP VICTORY, IQ |
| Web Views: | 630 |
| Downloads: | 279 |
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